Detail and Specific Information
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GRE Verbal › Detail and Specific Information
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A linguist analyzing changes in coastal dialects compiled a corpus of recorded interviews from the town of Greyhaven. The corpus consisted of 96 interviews: 48 recorded in 1975 and 48 recorded in 2015. Each interview lasted exactly 30 minutes, and all speakers were lifelong residents of Greyhaven. The linguist focused on the pronunciation of the vowel in words like “boat” and coded each instance as either a “raised” or “non-raised” variant. In the 1975 recordings, 31% of coded instances were raised; in the 2015 recordings, 54% were raised. The study explicitly noted that the 2015 speakers had a higher average level of formal education than the 1975 speakers, but it did not provide the education averages. The linguist also stated that the interviews were conducted by different fieldworkers in the two years.
According to the passage, which of the following is true?
The same fieldworker conducted the interviews in both 1975 and 2015.
The study reported exact average education levels for both speaker groups.
In the 2015 recordings, 54% of coded instances were classified as raised.
Each interview lasted 45 minutes.
All interviews in the corpus were recorded in 2015.
Explanation
This question tests detail comprehension by asking which statement is true according to the passage. Correct answers in such questions restate explicit information from the text without adding inferences or external knowledge. The relevant detail is in the sixth sentence, which provides the percentages of raised vowel variants in the recordings. This sentence states that in the 2015 recordings, 54% of coded instances were raised. Choice B matches this text exactly by restating the year and the 54% figure for raised instances. A representative distractor, like choice D, fails because it introduces a specific interview length of 45 minutes, whereas the passage explicitly states each lasted exactly 30 minutes. This distractor alters a stated detail to create confusion.
A climatology note describes the instrumentation at the Alpine Ridge weather station. The note states that the station is located at an elevation of 2,480 meters and began continuous operation on October 1, 1998. The station measures air temperature at 2 meters above ground and wind speed at 10 meters above ground. Precipitation is recorded with a tipping-bucket gauge that has a resolution of 0.2 millimeters per tip. The note also specifies that data are logged at 10-minute intervals and transmitted via satellite once per day at 02:00 local time. As a maintenance detail, the note reports that the temperature sensor is calibrated twice per year: in April and in October.
According to the passage, which of the following is true?
Data are logged at 1-minute intervals and transmitted hourly.
The station began continuous operation on October 1, 2008.
Because the station is at 2,480 meters, it records only snowfall rather than rainfall.
Precipitation is recorded with a tipping-bucket gauge with a resolution of 0.2 millimeters per tip.
Wind speed is measured at 2 meters above ground.
Explanation
This question tests detail-specific information by asking which statement accurately reflects the instrumentation specifications. Correct answers restate explicit technical details from the climatology note without inference. The passage states "Precipitation is recorded with a tipping-bucket gauge that has a resolution of 0.2 millimeters per tip," which exactly matches choice A. This technical specification appears in the middle of the passage describing the station's measurement capabilities. Choice B is incorrect because the passage states wind speed is measured at 10 meters, not 2 meters above ground. Choice C incorrectly states 1-minute intervals when the passage specifies 10-minute intervals for data logging.
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A materials science paper describes tensile testing of a biodegradable polymer blend made from polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT). The blend was prepared at three mass ratios—70:30, 60:40, and 50:50 PLA:PBAT—using a twin-screw extruder operated at 180°C. Dog-bone specimens were injection molded and conditioned for 48 hours at 23°C and 50% relative humidity before testing. The passage states that tensile tests were performed according to ASTM D638 at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min, and that elongation at break was calculated from the displacement data recorded by the testing machine. The authors report that the 70:30 blend had the highest tensile strength among the three formulations. They also mention that a compatibilizer (maleic-anhydride-grafted PLA) was added at 2% by mass to all blends.
The passage states that…
The twin-screw extruder was operated at 180°C.
Specimens were conditioned for 24 hours at 23°C and 50% relative humidity.
Only the 70:30 blend contained the compatibilizer.
The 50:50 blend had the highest tensile strength.
Tensile tests were performed at a crosshead speed of 50 mm/min.
Explanation
This question tests comprehension of specific details presented in the passage. The correct answer must be information explicitly stated in the text without requiring interpretation. The passage explicitly states that the blend was prepared "using a twin-screw extruder operated at 180°C," making option A the correct answer. This processing parameter is presented as a factual detail about the experimental methodology. Option B is incorrect because the passage states tensile tests were performed "at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min," not 50 mm/min as the option claims.
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A policy brief evaluated the results of a small-business grant program in the state of Lydon. The program awarded 500 grants of $10,000 each in 2021, restricted to firms with fewer than 20 employees. The brief stated that applications were scored on three criteria: job retention plans (40%), financial need (40%), and community impact (20%). According to administrative records cited in the brief, 58% of awarded firms were in retail or food service, 21% were in personal services, and the remaining 21% were in other sectors. The brief also reported that grantees were required to submit a one-page spending report within 120 days of receiving funds, but the brief did not summarize the contents of those reports.
Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?
The program awarded 500 grants of $10,000 each in 2021.
Firms with up to 50 employees were eligible for the grants.
Exactly 58% of awarded firms were in personal services.
Community impact accounted for 40% of the application score.
The brief summarized what grantees reported spending the funds on.
Explanation
This question tests detail comprehension by asking which statement is mentioned in the passage. Correct answers in such questions restate explicit information from the text without adding inferences or external knowledge. The relevant detail is in the second sentence, which describes the grant awards. This sentence states that the program awarded 500 grants of $10,000 each in 2021. Choice A matches this text by restating the number of grants, amount, and year. A representative distractor, like choice D, fails because it claims the brief summarized spending reports, but the passage notes that the brief did not summarize their contents. This distractor adds an unstated action.
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A psychology study tested whether background music affects proofreading accuracy. The researchers recruited 180 participants and randomly assigned them to one of three conditions: silence, instrumental music at 60 decibels, or instrumental music at 75 decibels. Each participant proofread the same 800-word passage containing exactly 24 intentional errors (spelling, punctuation, and subject-verb agreement). Participants had 12 minutes to mark errors. The study reported mean numbers of errors correctly identified as 16.8 (silence), 15.9 (60 dB), and 14.7 (75 dB). The authors stated that participants wore identical over-ear headphones in both music conditions. They also reported that the experiment was conducted in a single laboratory room over four consecutive afternoons.
According to the passage, which of the following is true?
The highest mean number of errors identified occurred in the 75 dB condition.
Participants had 20 minutes to mark errors.
The music used included lyrics to increase cognitive load.
The study took place across multiple laboratory rooms to reduce noise contamination.
Participants proofread an 800-word passage containing exactly 24 intentional errors.
Explanation
This question tests detail comprehension by asking which statement is true according to the passage. Correct answers in such questions restate explicit information from the text without adding inferences or external knowledge. The relevant detail is in the third sentence, which describes the proofreading task. This sentence specifies that each participant proofread the same 800-word passage containing exactly 24 intentional errors. Choice A matches this text by restating the word count and the exact number of errors. A representative distractor, such as choice D, fails because it misattributes the highest mean to the 75 dB condition, whereas the passage reports the highest (16.8) for silence and the lowest (14.7) for 75 dB. This distractor confuses the order of results.
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A biology lab manual described a protocol for measuring enzyme activity in yeast. Students prepared a reaction mixture containing 2.0 mL of phosphate buffer at pH 7.0, 0.5 mL of substrate solution, and 0.5 mL of yeast extract. The mixture was incubated at 30°C for exactly 8 minutes, after which students added 1.0 mL of stop solution to halt the reaction. Absorbance was then measured at 420 nm using a spectrophotometer. The manual stated that each lab section should run a blank containing buffer and substrate but no yeast extract. It also specified that the yeast extract should be kept on ice until use.
The passage states that…
Absorbance was measured at 520 nm.
Students were instructed to freeze the yeast extract overnight before use.
The reaction mixture included 2.0 mL of phosphate buffer at pH 7.0.
The blank contained buffer, substrate, and yeast extract.
The mixture was incubated at 37°C for 8 minutes.
Explanation
This question tests detail comprehension by asking what the passage states. Correct answers in such questions restate explicit information from the text without adding inferences or external knowledge. The relevant detail is in the second sentence, which lists the components of the reaction mixture. This sentence includes 2.0 mL of phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 as part of the mixture. Choice B matches this text by restating the volume and pH of the buffer. A representative distractor, such as choice A, fails because it specifies absorbance at 520 nm, but the passage states measurement at 420 nm. This distractor alters the wavelength detail.
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A geology seminar report described a field survey of a basalt flow on the island of Norell. Researchers collected 24 rock samples along a single transect that ran 3.2 kilometers from the coast toward the island’s central ridge. Each sample location was recorded with GPS, and the report listed the elevation range of the transect as 15 meters to 410 meters above sea level. The team performed potassium-argon dating on 10 of the 24 samples and reported ages between 0.84 and 0.92 million years. The remaining 14 samples were analyzed only for major-element chemistry, including silica and magnesium oxide percentages. The report explicitly stated that no thin-section petrography was conducted due to time constraints.
Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?
Potassium-argon dating was performed on 10 of the 24 samples.
The report provided silica and magnesium oxide data for only the 10 dated samples.
The transect extended 32 kilometers from the coast to the central ridge.
Thin-section petrography revealed abundant olivine phenocrysts.
All 24 samples were dated between 0.84 and 0.92 million years.
Explanation
This question tests detail comprehension by asking which statement is mentioned in the passage. Correct answers in such questions restate explicit information from the text without adding inferences or external knowledge. The relevant detail is in the fifth sentence, which describes the dating analysis. This sentence states that the team performed potassium-argon dating on 10 of the 24 samples. Choice A matches this text by repeating the method and the number of samples dated. A representative distractor, like choice B, fails because it introduces thin-section petrography findings, but the passage explicitly states that no such analysis was conducted due to time constraints. This distractor contradicts a direct statement in the text.
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An economics paper examined the effect of eliminating late fees at a municipal library system with 9 branches. The policy change took effect on January 1, 2020. The authors compared circulation in 2019 and 2020 and reported that total checkouts rose from 1.82 million in 2019 to 1.95 million in 2020. The paper also reported that the number of active cardholders increased from 112,000 to 119,000 over the same period. However, the authors stated that in-person visits declined in 2020 and attributed part of the decline to temporary branch closures between March 20 and June 15, 2020. The paper explicitly noted that it did not separate the effect of the late-fee policy from the effect of the closures. It also stated that the library’s maximum loan period for books remained 21 days in both years.
The passage states that…
The authors isolated the late-fee policy’s effect by controlling for closures.
The maximum loan period for books remained 21 days in both 2019 and 2020.
Branch closures lasted from January 1 to March 20, 2020.
The library system had 12 branches at the time of the policy change.
Total checkouts decreased from 1.95 million in 2019 to 1.82 million in 2020.
Explanation
This question tests detail comprehension by asking what the passage states. Correct answers in such questions restate explicit information from the text without adding inferences or external knowledge. The relevant detail is in the last sentence, which discusses the library's loan policies. This sentence states that the maximum loan period for books remained 21 days in both 2019 and 2020. Choice B matches this text by restating the unchanged 21-day loan period for both years. A representative distractor, such as choice A, fails because it reverses the reported checkout figures; the passage states an increase from 1.82 million in 2019 to 1.95 million in 2020. This distractor inverts the numbers to imply a decrease not supported by the text.
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A computer science instructor reported outcomes from a new grading policy in an introductory programming course. In 2022, the course had 180 students and used a traditional points-based system: three midterm exams (each worth 20% of the grade), weekly quizzes (20%), and a final project (20%). In 2023, with 192 students, the instructor replaced the points-based system with a “mastery” model in which students could retake quizzes up to two times, and the lowest midterm score was dropped. The report stated that the final project remained required in both years and that its rubric was unchanged. Average course grades (on a 4.0 scale) were reported as 2.74 in 2022 and 2.89 in 2023. The instructor also noted that the 2023 course used the same textbook edition as 2022.
According to the passage, which of the following is true?
The textbook edition changed between 2022 and 2023.
In 2023, students could retake quizzes up to two times.
In 2022, the course dropped the lowest midterm score.
Average course grades decreased from 2.89 in 2022 to 2.74 in 2023.
The final project was optional in 2023 but required in 2022.
Explanation
This question tests detail comprehension by asking which statement is true according to the passage. Correct answers in such questions restate explicit information from the text without adding inferences or external knowledge. The relevant detail is in the third sentence, which describes the 2023 grading policy. This sentence states that in 2023, the mastery model allowed students to retake quizzes up to two times. Choice A matches this text by restating the retake policy for quizzes in 2023. A representative distractor, like choice E, fails because it reverses the grade trend; the passage reports an increase from 2.74 in 2022 to 2.89 in 2023. This distractor inverts the numbers.
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An archaeology report described a survey of ceramic fragments at the Tel Harun site. The team excavated four trenches, each measuring 2 meters by 5 meters, during a 12-day season in October 2023. In total, the team cataloged 1,460 ceramic fragments. Of these, 310 were classified as “rim sherds,” 980 as “body sherds,” and 170 as “base sherds,” with the categories defined in the report’s methods section. The report stated that carbon dating was performed on two charcoal samples from Trench 3, yielding calibrated dates centered on 740 BCE and 710 BCE. The report explicitly noted that no human remains were recovered.
Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?
A total of 1,710 ceramic fragments were cataloged.
Carbon dating was performed on two charcoal samples from Trench 3.
Human remains were recovered from Trench 1.
The excavation season took place in March 2023.
All four trenches measured 5 meters by 5 meters.
Explanation
This question tests detail comprehension by asking which statement is mentioned in the passage. Correct answers in such questions restate explicit information from the text without adding inferences or external knowledge. The relevant detail is in the fifth sentence, which discusses carbon dating. This sentence states that carbon dating was performed on two charcoal samples from Trench 3. Choice B matches this text by identifying the method, number of samples, and trench. A representative distractor, such as choice E, fails because it claims all trenches measured 5 meters by 5 meters, but the passage specifies 2 meters by 5 meters. This distractor changes the stated dimensions.